What should our response be to the global suffering?

Perhaps recent history has made us more aware of how events across the globe affect America — affect Oregon. Perhaps school history lessons, lingering in our subconscious, have reminded us that the battles of World War I began 100 years ago this week. Or perhaps technology — watching the turmoil and tragedy of world events unfold throughout the day — has pricked our collective conscience.

Oregonians Answer The Questions:

We asked Oregonians to answer two questions regarding the issues surrounding the Summer of Human Suffering

And what can we do as individuals this week to make the world a safer, saner, more peaceful place?

Those are haunting questions. They merit sober reflection and serious conversation. And action.

Today, the Statesman Journal is taking the space normally devoted to Sunday Opinion and instead is dedicating it to helping Oregonians find and share those answers.

— Michael Davis, executive editor, and the Statesman Journal staff

Summer of Suffering(Photo: Editorial Cartoon)

WHAT SHOULD OUR RESPONSE BE TO THE GLOBAL SUFFERING?

Global suffering can seem so overwhelming; and often our immediate reaction is to send money or goods. It is a way to do our part, to demonstrate empathy, and to feel connected. I hope we'll never become so hardened or fatigued that we don't stop showing compassion through these kinds of efforts.

And I hope we don't stop asking the question: What can we do to help? The answer is, we can respond by doing better at the local level to look out for each other ... to work together to find better ways to protect and advocate for those vulnerable Oregonians in jeopardy of their safety and to try to reduce these threats at the local level where we can actually make a difference through policy and action.

Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon attorney general

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Americans should never stand on the sidelines. It is our duty to seek justice, at home and abroad. For me, this means our nation is compelled to lead with a steady hand in the face of an injustice, to employ every means of humanitarian support, and to deliver the blessings of hope. And although that probably sounds a little short on specifics, I am confident that justice, good will, and relentless hope will always prevail.

Walt Beglau, Marion County district attorney

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“Take care of your own first and hope the whole world does the same.”

Christy Perry

Over the long run, we know that education improves the human condition. We need kids to learn how to reduce global suffering when they grow up and take over as community and world leaders. They should be studying history, economics, political science, art, music, world religions, science, technology, engineering and math. Young people need to understand the world so they can lead the world into the future.

Christy Perry, superintendent, Salem-Keizer Public Schools

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In many ways we as Americans have such abundance and security. We should never take it for granted and seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul and mind, and love our neighbors as ourselves. Beyond that we should live generously so as to bring our nation's collective resources to assist and serve others who are in the midst of the challenges we see around the world. We have a stewardship responsibility to be part of the response and solution wherever possible.

Sheldon Nord, president, Corban University

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Understand that we see through a glass darkly and subsequently, do not jump to conclusions on adverse issues too quickly, lest we misjudge.

Almost all of unnecessary human suffering is a result of inordinate desire, inordinate fear, and delusion. Catholic social teaching says that we are all called to create a more just and compassionate society. There are so many ways to approach that, but at its most fundamental we have to do something about people living in fear and find a way to assist people out of poverty.

Jim Seymour, executive director, Catholic Community Services

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Practice tolerance. Throughout history, we have seen the consequences of intolerance: slavery, the Holocaust, bigotry and persecution of all types based merely on our differences — minute in the cosmic scheme.

Pandemic disease is not a new phenomena, witness the plague of the Middle Ages, influenza eliminating tens of millions of lives, and European diseases brought to the new world.

What is different today? The easy availability of massive weaponry, a shrinking globe by virtue of worldwide and instantaneous communications, travelers circling the globe, and an environmental attitude that focuses on the short term. Technology, good will, education, respect for one another and hope can help; but we must overcome the egotistical human condition that drives us apart."

Mark Weiss, president, Western Oregon University

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“Each of us ... will need to reflect upon what our role might be in the face of violence and tragedy.
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Karen L. Wood

I think we all struggle to find our way through times that seem overwhelmingly difficult, when the harm that we humans do to one another seems to overshadow our best efforts at peacemaking and even meaning-making. Each of us, depending upon our spiritual commitments, our social location and our experience, will need to reflect upon what our role might be in the face of violence and tragedy.

Karen L. Wood, Willamette University chaplain

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Take care of the people you can reach. Take care of your own first and hope the whole world does the same.

Sam Brentano, Marion County commissioner

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Our best response to suffering is to choose to really see the people involved and to respond with acts of love. I may not be able to end world hunger, but I can send seed packets to a widow in Africa so that her garden can feed the orphaned grandchildren she's raising and pay for their school fees. I also find myself praying a lot for the places so dark only a miracle could bring healing.

Personally, watching suffering far away, sparks a mix of gratitude for what I have and also resolve to grow into the kind of person who would live with courage and strength when I'm in a scary place.

Most of us ordinary people feel helpless, but we are not. Our first duty is to pay attention — read, watch and listen to the news and think seriously about what is happening in the world. How will these events affect the way we vote next time, the way we talk to our children and students? The future is shapable.

Henry Hughes, poet and English professor, Western Oregon University

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The Family Building Blocks community has adopted as a core motivation the simple fact that this world can be a whole lot better if we each are genuinely and authentically committed to the success of others. Most of us are driven by personal obligation and social responsibility. It can be the hardest thing, caring about others, because loving other people takes courage.

Patrice Altenhofen, executive director, Family Building Blocks

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I think there's always suffering that we don't know about. We learn about these things when they're especially potent, like the things now in Gaza and Ukraine. These are things that have been going on for years. You can call it "The Summer of Suffering," but you can look at many winters, springs, summers and falls and categorize them the same way. People in Ukraine have been suffering since long before I was born.

Terri Gregory, author of "The Identity Crisis of Parenting"

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We should be strident in insisting that all parties in both conflicts adhere to the principles of international humanitarian law set forth in the Geneva Conventions. Even war has rules.

Thomas Bruner, CEO of Susan G. Komen Oregon and SW Washington

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I'm more of a feeler than a thinker. I tend to let it get in and grieve it right away. It's a valuable part of the process to go ahead and grieve. Good questions arise from a good amount of silence.

Kyle Dickinson, vice president of advancement, Union Gospel Mission

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I am always uncomfortable using the word "should." There is always suffering somewhere, and most people help in their own ways and to their capabilities; be it through prayers, actions, donations or nothing. This starts when each of us does the best we can at whatever we do.

Tim Greer, a practicing lawyer and registered nurse in Salem

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Take each situation and examine the issue's systemic underpinnings and the available options, and respond with the best we can. Our response could include cultivation of our empathy and awareness so that we can work together as best as is reasonable.

Gretchen Bennett, human rights and relations coordinator, city of Salem

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We should be compassionate and do what we can to support relief agencies who are helping to alleviate the suffering in those regions. After all we are Americans, it's who we are, and it's the right thing to do.

Empathy is a life skill that benefits us all in a mixed up world, and one that can be taught, encouraged and practiced. Once a person understands the life circumstance of another, compassion grows.

Darcie Jones, counseling program associate, Salem-Keizer School District

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“When we help others, we help ourselves; we affirm our own humanity. In doing so, we prepare ourselves for our own future trials as well.”

Linda Bowers

The nature of being human is to experience a wide range of joy and pain, of birth and death. Without suffering, we cannot be fully human. We can, however, honor the interconnectedness of all people around the world by serving here to help minimize the suffering of others. When we help others, we help ourselves; we affirm our own humanity. In doing so, we prepare ourselves for our own future trials as well.

Linda Bowers, retired Willamette University professor

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Immediate responses are in the hands of those who have the facts and ability to respond. We (all of us) must, however, find and then understand the root causes. Once known and understood, we should respond by learning lessons so that there will never be another summer of human suffering.